ESTERO, Fla. – Freshman Brandon Stone posted a game-high 17 points and sophomore Ed Croswell scored the game-winning layup with less than a second remaining as the La Salle University men's basketball advanced to the championship game of the Gulf Coast Showcase with a 72-70 win over preseason Horizon League favorite Wright State on Tuesday.

The Explorers will take on South Alabama in the title game of the Gulf Coast Showcase on Wednesday, Nov. 27, beginning at 7:30 p.m. La Salle is vying for its second in-season tournament in as many seasons, as it took home the Boardwalk Battle championship in Atlantic City last December.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Consecutive three-pointers from junior Scott Spencer and Stone opened up a 9-5 lead for the Explorers just over four minutes into the contest.
• The two teams went back and forth for an extended period, with neither team able to build much of a cushion.
• Three-pointers from freshman Christian Ray and junior David Beatty finished the scoring for La Salle in the first half and opened up a 35-30 lead at the break.
• The Explorers hit five three-pointers over the first 20 minutes and received 10 points from Stone on 4-of-6 shooting.
• Beatty knocked down another three-ball in the opening moments of the second half to bump the advantage to eight, a lead the Explorers held for the next eight minutes.
• Wright State battled back and tied the game at the 12:13 mark, before taking a two-point lead following a pair of free throws by Trey Calvin.
• The Raiders inched in front by a score of 60-57 with 6:19 on the clock, before an NBA-range three by senior Saul Phiri evened the score.
• Beatty drained a tough jumper on the next possession and Croswell converted one of two from the charity stripe to swing the three-point lead in favor of La Salle with 4:36 to go.  
• A fast-break layup by Ayinde Hikim nudged the Explorers further in front near the two-minute mark, but five straight from Wright State – including a three by Cole Gentry – tied the game with 21.6 remaining.
• On the final possession, Croswell battled for a rebound off the initial La Salle attempt and converted on the putback bucket as he was fouled with less than a second to go.
• Though he missed the free throw, Wright State did not get a shot off before calling timeout and, after a brief official review, the game was declared over as La Salle secured the semifinal win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Led by Stone, the Explorers bench outscored Wright State's by a resounding 35-15 margin, including 33 from the freshman class.
• Christian Ray scored a career-high eight points and added six rebounds and three assists, while Ayinde Hikim had six points and two assists.
• Beatty closed with 10 points and led the team with a +12 +/- rating in 25 minutes of action. Spencer was the third player in double figures for La Salle with 11 points.
• Bill Wampler and Jaylon Hall each had 15 points to lead Wright State, who fell to 5-2 on the year.